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Scotland's May elections - what are the main parties' rural priorities?

On May 5 voters will take to the polls for the Scottish Parliamentary elections, but who is promising what for agriculture and the country’s rural communities? Olivia Midgley assesses the five key party manifestos.

After graduating from Sheffield University with a journalism degree, Olivia kicked off her career with stints on local and regional Load More...

Scotland’s political parties may have been criticised for neglecting rural policy in recent televised debates, but their manifestos have sought to allay voters’ fears that, if elected, they are each determined to get the best deal for rural Scotland.

Unsurprisingly, key manifesto pledges have been made on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), land reform and promoting fairness in the supply chain as well as increasing the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).

However, improving connectivity and rural broadband and reducing the regulatory burden on farmers have also featured heavily in most of the party documents.

Review the future of National Parks to protect them and consider options for establishing a new National Park.

Land reform

Improve the legislation, including mechanisms which will ensure land in Scotland is registered within the EU

Support crofters by 'empowering' communities

Scottish National Party (SNP)

The party said if re-elected, it would fight for CAP simplification, a fairer share of the budgets for Scotland and for greater flexibility in how it is delivered.

Regulation and CAP

Support productive and sustainable agriculture, target activity, support new entrants, protect farming and crofting on Scotland’s hills and islands and also focus on the ‘dysfunctional supply chains’ and markets which deny primary producers a fairer return from the wider food and drink industry’s success.

Improve the payments system

Continue campaigning for the UK Government to release the £190 million CAP convergence funds to Scottish farmers